Consistency is the philosophy underlying the management of The Deli in Markleeville according to owners DeAnne and Warren Jang. Consistency of hours; consistency of food quality; consistency of service. Long-time local support, also consistent, shows that it is effective. And it is not only locals who consider The Deli a favorite Ð they even have a family from Holland in which every member has been to The Deli at different times.
The Deli opened in May 1993 in a building leased by the Jangs from DeAnne's parents, Bob and Dee Rudden, who own the Markleeville General Store almost next door. The store under Ruddens' proprietorship has been another local business operated successfully on the principle of consistency.
There had been another deli in the building under the previous tenants but when the Jangs took over they gutted the building and installed new equipment and made numerous improvements. Over the years additional improvements have been made including new floors and walls and deck, replaced plumbing, and replaced windows (broken more than once during the night by intruding bears).
The Deli generally opens in late April every year. The Jangs try to open when the weekend fishing season opens but it is weather related. And it generally stays open through October, once again a weather related issue.
Both Jangs came to the business with prior restaurant experience. DeAnne grew up in the South Bay area in California and started in the business with a job at McDonald's. She quickly became experienced in the bookkeeping end of the business which has been a huge asset in managing The Deli.
Warren's parents immigrated from southeast China and first lived in the Delta area where his father was a fruit picker. They lived for awhile during the 1930s in Reno where his father worked for awhile in a Chinese restaurant. They then bought an existing restaurant in Berkeley which became the Golden Rose and where Warren, his parents, and all his siblings worked. Warren remembers that at the age of six he deep fried his first chicken leg.
Warren moved to Alpine County in 1974 and lived in Bear Valley. He and DeAnne were married in 1995 and for six years split their time between Bear Valley and Markleeville until DeAnne's daughter, Rendee, graduated from high school. Nine years ago they moved to the east slope and, more recently, to Gardnerville where they care for DeAnne's grandmother.
In addition to co-managing The Deli, Warren works full time for Costco in Reno and travels one (long) day each week to the Bay area to pick up supplies for The Deli.
They are hoping to purchase the restaurant property in the near future and remodel and expand. They say the business has tripled since they opened.
The Deli is located on Main Street (Highway 4/89) in the center of Markleeville and is open every day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The menu features very generous sandwiches with many choices of bread, cheeses, meats, and other items; a daily special; soups and several types of salads, drinks, and ice cream.
Fall colors are beginning to turn and The Deli is located in the middle of all this beauty Ð Highways 4 (Ebbetts Pass), 4/89 (Monitor Pass) and 88 (Carson Pass).
For additional information call (530) 694-9595.
